Copper is a mineral that we are all familiar with, but we don't usually see it like it looks in this picture. We see it everyday in the form of pennies. Copper is a very useful mineral that is also used in wires to conduct electricity. In fact, silver is the only other metal that conducts electricity better, but it's too expensive to use. Copper is very important in our industries and is also combined with other metals to make brass and bronze.
Copper is malleable, or easy to shape, and has a high luster when polished. It was one of the first metals known to man and was hammered into tools, weapons and ornaments 10,000 years ago!